Things To Ask Before You Agree To A Job

Getting a hire offer is always a thrilling rush, but that doesn't always mean that it's the best thing for your career. In fact, accepting the wrong job can put your career (and life) into a tailspin.

The truth is that it's not always easy to figure out whether you're in the right zone - but there are often clues that you may be heading into the wrong company. Before you agree to do the work, make sure you know what you're getting into, what you should expect, and whether it's really worth it by asking these 11 questions below.

"What kind of person tends to do well here?"

You want to get a good idea of the kind of people that the company culture tends to embrace before you say yes to the offer. If you find that people who are your polar opposites tend to do best, chances are that accepting this offer would equate to setting yourself up to fail.

"How much compensation am I looking at? Do I get benefits? What's the company vacation policy like?"

People often look at the number in the paycheck to determine whether or not they are actually want to work there. However, money doesn't always buy happiness. Sometimes, companies have awesome bonuses that make them worth working for.

Things like health insurance, retail discounts, or even a very luxe vacation policy can make a huge impact on how much you enjoy your job. Learn about the whole package before you make a decision, and it's likely that you might come to a different conclusion.

"Is this a firm offer? Can I have the offer in writing?"

Nothing is quite as cringe-inducing as believing that you've been offered a job when you really haven't. Before you show up Monday, you probably should make sure you actually have a job.

Beware of companies that refuse to give you a job offer in writing. This often is a sign that they may be lacking in quality hiring policies - or that their turnover rate is sky high.

"What exactly would be my role here?"

You want to find out exactly what your job would entail, including the steps that you would need to do in order to get the job done appropriately. Sometimes, what you find out about the job may be enough to put you off of the offer altogether.

For example, if you're a salesperson, you might want to find out what being a salesperson there would entail. Do they expect you to go door to door, knocking at every house? Or, are you a telemarketer? If you're a telemarketer, would you be expected to talk to cold leads?

These things make huge differences in the overall quality of your work life.

"Is the amount of money you're quoting me a base pay?"

You'd be surprised how many companies will lie by omission when it comes to the money people will be paid - and they will often cover it up by saying that that's the "potential" you can make if you bonus out, get commission, and more.

This isn't acceptable for most people, so make sure that the company is offering you a good base pay before you get onboard.

"What are the work hours we're expected to do? Are we allowed to work from home after a while?"

A great job can quickly turn sour if you find yourself working such long hours that you no longer have a life outside of your employment. This question also helps expose some very striking red flags, depending on the answer.

Potential employees would be wise to avoid companies that tell you that "You can work whenever you want - however to make money, you'll really have to put in effort," or "It's a 1099 job, but you need to work a 9 to 5." Both of these signal that you may be dealing with a company that's working using unethical hiring methods.

"How will my success be measured?"

Different companies will have different measures of success. For example, some people won't care about how you make a sale as long as you make quotas. Others, however, want to ensure that you aren't browbeating customers into buying things.

You want to find out how your performance will be judged. It's very likely that you have certain measures that you just don't want to deal with. If the standards they hold you to don't jive with your working style, you might want to turn the job down.

"What's my probationary period like?"

Most companies will have probation periods in which they determine whether or not the hire's a good match. You want to find out how long your probation period is, what you will be judged on, and what happens afterwards.

This way, you can figure out your next steps, the transition, and whether or not the probation period is unreasonable for the industry in general.

"Is there a dress code I should be aware of?"

Every company's dress code is a bit different - so you might want to learn about what you're allowed to wear before you head into the office for your first day. Additionally, the dress code can tell you quite a bit about your company's culture - so it's wise to take into account.

"How high are the chances of upward mobility in the company?"

Most of us aren't going to be satisfied with a dead end job. If you're looking to rise through the ranks, then you definitely should ask about the potential of a promotion and an increase in responsibility.

If the recruiters tell you there's not really much you can rise to, you may want to avoid working there. You do need to grow in order to ensure that you can stay relevant in today's job market - and as a result, you'll need a company that will allow you to grow.

"How much time do I have to decide? When do I start, if I choose to work with you?"

Never go for a company that demands an answer right there and then, as this is often a signal that they have a very high turnaround rate. Take at least a day or two before you make the decision.

If you choose to work with them, you also will need to know when your first day at work is. After all, you will need to prepare for your big day, right?